Such a cool close encounter!!! Flushed 2 ads. from a pinestraw-covered area under a low-hanging oak branch. One flew into cover and did not reappear. The other began a series of short grunts or growls, and flying around in tight circles around me -- even hovering in front of me at only 10 feet away or so! It would perch in the wide open and grunt, then go down to the ground to do the same. I quickly scanned the area where they came from before retreating to leave them be -- did not see any eggs or young but, then again, they could have been well-camouflaged if present and invisible to me.

Recorded at a distance of about 20 meters with an Olympus LS-10S equipped with a Sennheiser ME67 microphone. Low cut filter on the K6 power supply turned on. I briefly saw eye shine from the bird as it perched on a fence post.

Habitat: field with tall grass surrounded by open pine forests with saw palmetto. Adjacent to Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area.

Late in the breeding season for this species to be vocalizing in this area. Unseen, but sounded high in a large Live Oak tree, (Quercus virginiana) on my property. The recording was boosted to -6.dB. The background is a gentle rain.